Small passenger service

A small passenger service (SPS) uses vehicles that carry 12 people or less (including the driver) to carry passengers. You need a small passenger service licence if you carry passengers for hire or reward.

Small passenger services include taxi and app-based services, shuttle services and private hire services. Dial-a-driver services are also small passenger services but the customer vehicles used in these services are not passenger service vehicles.

a credit or debit card or your internet banking details to pay the fee ($449.80 for the application and $9.70 for the vetting).

*You’ll have a verified RealMe identity already if you’ve applied on the RealMe website and then visited a PostShop to have your photo taken, or signed up for a verified identity when you renewed your passport online.

the police vetting fee of $9.70 for each person that will be in control of the service.

Persons in control

Under section 30L of the Land Transport Act 1998, the NZ Transport Agency must be satisfied that anyone who will have, or is likely to have, control or involvement in the operation of the transport service is a fit and proper person, including any representative.

Anyone who has direct or indirect control of any part of the management of the organisation must complete a Personal details form (TL02) [PDF, 135 KB] and provide evidence of identity. This is so we can determine if they all meet the requirements of a fit and proper person. This includes any New Zealand representative.

New Zealand representative

Where none of the people who will be in control of your small passenger service live in New Zealand, you must provide the name and address of a representative living in New Zealand. This representative is authorised by you to:

engage with the Transport Agency on matters relating to your compliance with the relevant requirements of the Land Transport Act 1998 and all regulations and rules, and

any history of persistent failure to pay fines for transport-related offences.

The Transport Agency may also take into account any other relevant matter which they consider is in the public interest when determining your fitness to hold any licence.

TSL label

The Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017 requires all vehicles operating under a small passenger service licence to display a TSL label (except for dial-a-driver and facilitated cost-sharing passenger services).

TSL labels are required so that operators who rent, lease, borrow or share vehicles can move their details easily between vehicles. The labels also allow a passenger or enforcement officer to identify the licence the service is working under.